Dialogic Preaching Workshop Tim Arnold
It happened by accident! What is dialogic preaching? Preaching by engaging an audience in conversation. - shifting focus away from interesting monologues. - employing conversational techniques to teach. - treating the folks in the pew as responders rather than listeners. - Believing that the folks in the pew want to participate in their own learning process. They want to be engaged. - Treating the folks in the pew as participators rather than hearers. - Asking questions to engage the attention of congregation.
How should we understand the task of preaching? Our modern culture has come to view preaching as skilled speech. The best speechers preach to get more people to come sit in the pew. Gospel proclamation values people as a community, not as a commodity. Goal of preaching is not to persuade more people to come to church, but to relate the truth of the Bible. Preaching is relational, relational ministry happens in dialogue.
How should we understand the task of preaching? Preaching is dialogue: a conversation between the Bible, the speaker, and the responders. 2 components to understand dialogue: Irenic: by irenics is meant a determined attempt to listen carefully, to tune one s ears to the alien language and expectations of the other. Peter Matheson Irenic=relational. Relationships help us rephrase questions people have and give voice to them.
How should we understand the task of preaching? 2 components to understand dialogue: Heuristic: the power of questions in proclamation. Dialogue engages the listener so they can discover the truth. Questions allow the listener to discover! If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. Matt 5:46-47 Jesus engaged with questions rather than simply propositional fact. He let folks make connections on their own. He empowered.
How should we understand the task of preaching? Heuristic=Discovery Isn t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds they don t plant or harvest for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field Matt 6:25-30 You have heard it said? but I say to you Questions serve as the prompt for people to engage in their own discovery of meaning. Jesus taught in such a way as to demand his listeners would have questions! the disciples came to him later and asked, what does this mean?
How should we understand the task of preaching? Small group exercise: Group 1 count how many questions the prophet Malachi asks. Group 2 count how many questions James asks. How many questions did Jesus ask in His teaching ministry as recorded in the Gospels? I believe dialogue as a teaching tool has a greater biblical foundation than monologue! Further, I would make the case that a dialogic approach to preaching is the most Biblical approach to preaching there is.
What dialogic preaching is not! - Two old men sitting on stools in front of the church having a conversation. (1960 s Oxford Don approach) - Asking open ended small group questions, such as, what do you think about this verse? - Letting the folks in the pew set or alter the trajectory of the sermon. - Asking questions that allow the preacher to get sidetracked from the meaning of the text.
What effect does dialogue have on an audience? People will give their attention if they feel they are being engaged in conversation. People will give their attention if they sense they might be asked a question. People will remember dialogue portions of the sermon far easier than monologue, for the same reason people remember children s sermons better than the actual sermon! We naturally connect with children at the dialogue level why should our approach to adults be different?
Why then aren t we taught dialogue in our seminaries? (at least I wasn t) Because we are white. Dialogue hasn t been found in white traditions for 100+ years. African American preachers are schooled in dialogue, and employ different techniques weekly. We have much to learn. Example: S.M. Lockridge I wonder do you know Him? We are most likely taught that stories capture attention. We are often fearful of being interrrupted and losing our train of thought/place in our notes. We are taught manuscript or scripted sermons, rather than extemporaneous styles.
Why then aren t we taught dialogue in our seminaries? (at least I wasn t) We might have the fear that dialogue isn t acceptable to the reformed approach to preaching. Key definition: expository (reformed) preaching: the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies it to the hearers. Haddon Robinson Preaching s goal is to communicate the truth of the text faithfully. We are not being faithful to the text, however, if we do not creatively express it as the original writer/teacher expressed it. Jesus Paul Prophets
What were this preacher s hang-ups regarding dialogue? Oxford Don approach is very difficult, and we might have witnessed bad examples in the past. Over the edge advocates 1960-70 s push seen as liberal or radical Emerging Church push, such as Doug Paggitt Paggitt advocates letting the congregation shape the trajectory of the teaching time. Fear of losing control of the sermon, fear of stepping out of the comfort zone.
Dialogic Techniques Disclaimer: You can t go from 0-100 in a week. Ease the church into dialogue by asking a question one week, two the next, etc. People will bristle if you sprint. Ask relational questions: Questions that you know people in the pew have that come out of your intimacy with them. Divorce? Health issues? Give those voice. Pelton example. Ask rhetorical questions: James employs rhetorical questions, so does Paul. does this mean we should go on sinning so that grace may abound? Anticipate what questions people might have in response to what you just said, and voice those questions. some of you might be thinking, gee Tim, this sounds a little like moralism Rhetorical questions have obvious answers! Call for an amen. Ask congregation, do you agree with me?
Dialogic Techniques Different translation: Ask for hands, call on a person. Philippians 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. Who has a different word for exploited? let s look at that word more closely and see what it means Fill in the blank: Reference a verse everyone knows, and give permission for shout-outs. For God so loved the World. What does that mean? For God so loved the world, ever thought about that word? Yes/No questions: Can you identify with this story? Do you agree with what the writer says here? Well I don t. The human part of me completely disagrees! (gives permission for someone to feel differently than they are supposed to.)
Dialogic Techniques Closed questions: Questions that have one or two word answers. You have anticipated all the possible answers. You give clear instructions before opening the floor. You go first. Example: What are the attributes of a King? A Shepherd? Poll the kids: Give permission for kids to raise hands and answer. Then ask the adults!
Dialogic Techniques Before-service focus group: Assemble Elders/trusted group and talk about the passage with them before Sunday. Let them know what you are thinking and hear from them. Reference that group in the sermon. After-service QNA: Bill Hybels, Tim Keller and others will regularly invite anyone to stay after the service and ask questions about what they heard. This approach puts the preacher on a stool answering questions and gaining ideas.
Dialogic Techniques Pre-planted answerers: Example: Shining Stars Sunday school class given a question to discuss before service. what makes a good husband/wife? Then, when question is asked during the sermon, 8 people are ready to answer, having thought 2-3 word answers. Questions unrelated to the Bible: Strong openers. Raise your hand if you are a Redskins fan. Okay, who is the greatest Redskin player in your mind. We don t need to know a reason, just give a name. (call one by one)
Dialogic Techniques What techniques have you used in the past that work for you? What are the best techniques to use at first, to get the church used to this approach? Yes/no Rhetorical and relational Poll the kids Closed questions (use this one by giving a disclaimer: I ve never done this before, but I want to ask a question and give you permission to answer it )
Help each other out As a group, read the following passages and explore how they might be preached dialogically, using some of these techniques. Philippians 4:2-3 I Samuel 21:1-9 Psalm 139 Your passage this Sunday!